The 15th IREN Media Forum 2017

BACKGROUND

The recent United States of America (USA) elections elevated debate on “Fake News.” The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) picked on the theme “Democracy-Fake News Industry-Economy” for its 15th IREN Eastern Africa Media Forum to explore and gain insights on how “Fake News” impacts the East Africa region’s quest for democratization and economic development. The key focus areas of this year’s forum will be on artificial intelligence, data mining, profiling and individual choice. East Africans should query how much of what they believe to be information and news is “fake” and its impact on sense of informed choice both in political and economic development processes. This year’s event will include a poster session to showcase how artificial intelligence has become a key component in influencing individual choice.

Day 1: Market Place of Ideas: Keynote address to be delivered by the senior political analyst from East Africa to set the tempo for the meeting. This will be followed by researched presentations from consumers of information, ICT practitioners, data experts and journalists in three main panels.

Day 2: Artificial Intelligence, Data Mining, Profiling and Individual Choice; the place of Authoritative Sources in thirst for News and Decision making.

Day 3: Hot Seat on Just how informed is informed decision; Poster Exhibition Session – Artificial Intelligence and Individual Choice; navigating Fake News to grow democracy and Economic Development in East Africa.

*All events will be open to Social Media participation and the final outcomes published for media dissemination.